Thanks to: Guest, DelenaElejah1864, Tessa, Potterhorse-Spirit, CookieSpells4, thingsleftdesired, HPFan, TheDiva121, BrooklynGrace99 and MemoirsofaLostCause for your reviews.
Songs for this Chapter:
Isabel's Theme [See Tumblr]
Isabel and Remus' Theme [See Tumblr]
Isabel and Sirius' Theme [See Tumblr]
Isabel and Severus' Theme [See Tumblr]
Outro by M83
In the Stream by S. Carey
Found by Christel Alstos
I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
Get Free by Major Lazer (Andy C Remix)
Atlas by Coldplay
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
I opened my eyes to see sunshine. A smile graced my face as I realised what day it was. Today was the day I was going home. I was returning to my husband, to my kids, and to my family. No matter what this world had to offer me, that was my true home. I got up out of bed and quickly got changed, then ran down the stairs. I had never been so excited, so full of energy. It was, coincidentally, the day that the Hogwarts Express was leaving to go back to London. So, that meant it wouldn't be so weird for everyone else that I was just going to disappear. They'd think that I had just returned to France, my former home. As I sat in front of the mirror and brushed my long, black hair, someone appeared behind me in the mirror. Lily.
"You're leaving today," she said. I placed my hairbrush down on the bench in front of me and turned around to face her. She looked pale, and like she hadn't slept. I knew this was all to do with my leaving. I did feel horrible about it, but my children needed me more than Lily needed me.
"Lily," I sighed.
"I know it's selfish of me to say, but I really want you to stay here. I know you have a husband and kids, but you're my best friend, Isabel. I don't want you to go anywhere. This past year has been the best of my life. And if you stay here, you can stay with Remus. And us. And start all over again." I took her hands in mine and gripping them tightly. "Please," she whispered.
"You're my best friend," I told her. "But I'm sorry. I have to go back." I took my hands out of Lily's and stepped back. "I'm sorry." Before Lily could say anything else, I stepped past her and walked away. I couldn't talk myself out of this. I had to go home.
I walked into Dumbledore's office, checking if preparations for going home were in order. I approached his desk with a smile and sat opposite him. Dumbledore seemed to be in a happy mood himself, but when wasn't he in a happy mood?
"How are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked.
"Honestly...I don't know, Headmaster. I was excited this morning. But then I talked to Lily..."
"Ah, this was always going to be an issue. How attached to them are you, Miss Fairfax?" I wouldn't know how attached to them I was until I was away from them. They were my whole life, and now I was going back to what used to be my whole life. I was already missing Remus, Sirius, James and Lily. If I was attached to them now, how was I going to be in the old world? I decided to change the subject.
"Will they remember me, Professor?"
"No." My eyes widened.
"H-h-how...why...I don't - "
"They will have their memories wiped of you after you leave. Perhaps they will remember you for a week...two at most."
"Even Remus?"
"I'm afraid so. Remus, Sirius, James, Peter, Alice, Lily, Frank, Marlene, Potter's parents and Severus will all have their memories wiped. Everyone that has met you in this world, including me, will not remember you in two weeks." I tried to stop myself from crying, but I just couldn't. I didn't want them to forget me. There were so many beautiful memories we shared. "Isabel, this has to happen. Just remember, Sirius and Remus will see you again, and they will fall for you all over again. What will it be like for your future self to encounter Remus and Sirius, and them remembering you? It would be terribly confusing for each person involved."
"But I'll never see them again..."
"You're going home, therefore they cannot remember that you lived when they meet you again in the future, because it will simply make the future you incredibly confused." Dumbledore made sense, but it still broke my heart to know they wouldn't remember me.
"I'll see you later on, Headmaster." I left the room, my head down, as if I was defeated. If I was going home, why wasn't I happy? Why was everything I had pulling me to stay here with them forever? I walked down the stairs from Dumbledore's office into the corridor. Everyone was getting excited, ready to go back home. I was going back home, but was it home? Maybe this was my home now? I shook my head. I had to stop second guessing myself.
"Isabel!" I turned around to see Remus running towards me. As soon as he reached me, he pressed his lips to mine, for the whole school to see. I placed my arms around his neck and grew deeper into the kiss. His arms felt so safe...so perfect, it made me question why I was leaving. After a few more moments, I broke the kiss and placed my head on his shoulder so he could not see my tears.
"Isabel, please," he said, his voice trembling as he gripped my hand. I looked up at him to see his desperate expression on his face. "Everything seems okay with you here. I'm not scared of the full moon anymore, I don't care that I'm a werewolf, my friends are all happy, I'm happy...please...don't leave...I need you to stay." The look in his eyes was heartbreaking. He wanted me to stay with him so badly, and there was a part of me that wanted to stay here with him. I kissed his hand and held it to my cheek.
"You know I can't stay," I whispered. Remus' head fell at my words. "I don't belong here, Remus. This isn't my time."
"What was the point of this then?" He asked, shaking his head. I placed my hand on his cheek and lifted his head to look at me.
"Remus, listen to me. We'll meet again soon, I promise. I promise with everything I have that this is not the end for us." I leaned forward and kissed him. It was so gentle and so sweet. I would never get to kiss Remus again, but he would, in a few more years, meet me and share all those experiences we shared. "You'll see me again. Cherish the times we have together, okay?"
"Please don't leave me." I turned away from him and walked away. If I stayed any longer, perhaps he'd convince me.
I sat in the Gryffindor common room, all alone. I was struggling to deal with the fact that these were my last few moments in this world, and soon, I'd have to say goodbye to the people who used to be the three most important men in my life forever, and I'd have to say goodbye to this world that had become my home. I could hear footsteps behind me. I turned around to see Sirius approaching me with a grin.
"So this is it," Sirius said. He jumped on the couch next to me and nudged me with his elbow. He was the only one not crying over the fact I was leaving, but it wasn't like Sirius to show his emotions.
"This is it," I replied with a smile. After a few moments of silence, I threw my arms around him. "Thank you, Sirius." He seemed taken aback by my sudden show of affection towards him.
"For what?"
"For being you."
"I guess I'll see you again in a couple of years," he told me with a wink. I rolled my eyes and hit him playfully on the arm.
"Say hi to my future self for me," I said to Sirius. I stood up off the couch and looked down at Sirius. "Forgive her for being a little bitch sometimes. She can't help it," I told him with a smile. "Just remember how much she loves you when times get tough, okay? And remember how she'd give the world for you." Sirius grinned as I walked away. Even though he wouldn't remember the advice I just gave him, I knew that he knew I loved him.
I stood in Dumbledore's office, Remus by my side, Sirius, James, Lily and Minerva all standing behind me. Lily was already in tears. I looked ahead at Dumbledore, who was standing next to a make-shift door. That was the portal into the old world. Home. The Headmaster nodded at me, it was time to say my goodbyes to the people that had become so much like my family over this past year. I turned around, and first, it was time to say goodbye to James. I hugged him quickly and smiled, but we shared no words. I didn't know what to say to him. No words could express my gratitude towards him. Next, it was the girl who looked like an absolute mess - Lily. She was sobbing. I threw my arms around her and held her tightly.
"I wanted you to be here for my wedding," she whispered.
"Don't you worry about me." I placed my hands on her waist and smiled. "You're going to have the most incredible day without me, and you are going to get married to James and live the best life, and live it to the fullest every day." I hugged her one last time before stepping away from her. She then became hysterical, throwing herself into James' arms to cry. I then moved onto Sirius. I sighed, not knowing what I was going to say to him.
"I'll see you soon, kiddo," he said before quickly hugging me. He kissed my head, then stepped backwards and let me move on. It wasn't goodbye for Sirius, and that's what I loved so much about him, he was always positive. The last person waiting was Remus. I could see the two tears sitting on his right cheek. I didn't waste any time, I pressed my lips to his, and it wasn't a gentle kiss, but it was desperate and passionate. Just before I got any more into this kiss, I broke apart from him. I couldn't continue to stand here and kiss him. It'd kill me. I took his hand and pressed it to my cheek with a heartbroken smile.
"Be happy," I told Remus, kissing him one more time. The last time I would ever get to kiss Remus Lupin. The last time I would get to touch him, or look into his eyes. A tear fell onto my cheek as I pulled back from him. "I'll love you my whole life," I whispered, pressing my forehead to his. I could feel his tear fall onto my cheek. I bit my lip to stop myself from sobbing, and I took a few steps back, and eventually, my hand and his separated.
I looked back at the world, and the people, I was leaving behind. Sirius and Remus stood in the middle of the gang, both looking absolutely heartbroken. This was the last time I would ever see them. Ever. I took one deep breath and stepped into the door that Dumbledore had created. I took one last look at them all. Remus' eyes were pleading with me to come back and stay. Come back and kiss him, marry him, have kids with him, and live the rest of my life by his side. But I couldn't. Our timing, it was eternally, always off. I closed the door behind me, and suddenly, everything was black.
I could hear the sound of rain, belting down on the roof and windows. I could even smell the rain. It was beautiful and fresh. I opened my eyes a little. This place was familiar. It seemed like not long ago that I was here. And then it clicked. I was lying in bed in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. The door. Had it worked? What if it didn't work? I then looked to my right to see a brown haired Teddy Lupin sitting by my bedside, staring at the book in his hands.
"Teddy?" I whispered. His head snapped up, his eyes widening. "Teddy?" My eyes filled with tears as I reached out to my son. His hand connected with mine, and I burst into tears. "Teddy, oh my god." I threw my arms around him and held him tightly. There were no need for words. I dug my head into my son's shoulder and held it there, just appreciating being here. I sobbed into Teddy's shoulder. It was surreal. I never thought I'd see him again. How did I get back here?
"MADAME POMFREY! You're alive! Mum, you're alive!" He cried. Poppy ran into the room and held her heart. She looked up to the roof, shaking her head.
"Thank Merlin! Thank you for giving her back to us!" She cried. "I'll call Fred!"
"I was so scared," Teddy cried. "A whole year, you've been like this...a whole year...they said you mightn't have woken back up...I was so scared, Mum." Tears fell from my eyes as I realised what they had been put through. I had been enjoying my life as a teenager, even embracing it, and they had been going through hell, wondering if I would ever wake up. Moments later, Andie and Amelie ran into the room. My girls. They both threw their arms around me in tears. It was moments like these that I knew I had made the right decision by returning here.
"MAMA!" Andie sobbed. "Mum, I can't believe you're alive. I thought you were never coming back to us." Amelie didn't say a word. She just cried into my chest. The door then opened again, and there was my husband, running into the room. I sat up and held my hand over my mouth to stop a loud sob.
"Freddie..." I breathed out. Fred approached my beside slowly, as Teddy, Amelie and Andie stepped back. Fred sat down by my side, and I held my hand out, placing it on his cheek gently. Fred shut his eyes at my touch and placed his hand on mine. I had not seen him in so long, but I remembered his touch, and the way it made every nerve in my body alight. I placed my forehead on his and stayed silent, just wanting to hear the way he breathed.
"I thought you were dead," he whispered. "I thought you'd never come back to me. I love you so much."
"I love you. More than I ever have before."
I had been awake for a few hours now, and I was readjusting to this world, the people in it, and the downside to my return home - my forty-two year old body. Teddy, Amelie and Andie had returned home to prepare for my return, as did Fred. It was my first moment alone in this world. I knew that I had made the right decision returning here, the way my family reacted showed this. No matter how much I missed Remus, Sirius, James and Lily, my heart would always lie here with my husband, my children and my family. I couldn't believe I was going to go home in a few days, after a year of my body lying here, I'd get to truly go home. It was surreal. Soon after, I'd have to return to work.
"Isabel." I looked up to see Poppy walk in the room with a small smile on her face. "You have a very special visitor. She moved out of the way, and I saw a little jet black haired boy standing in the doorway with two blond women standing by his side.
"MAMA!" Harry screamed from the doorway, noticing I was awake. He ran as fast as he could, jumped on my bed and threw his arms around me. The tears began rushing out again as I held him tight. "I was so scared, Mama. I thought you were gonna die. Please don't leave me again," he whimpered. I kissed him on the head repeatedly as he sobbed on my shoulder. "I missed you, Mama. Never leave me again. Never go again."
"Sssh, baby, it's okay. I'm here now," I whispered, rocking him back and forth. I looked over my shoulder to see my little sisters, Fleur and Gabrielle, both in tears as they watched the exchange between Harry and I. There were no words needed between us three sisters, I could tell how thankful they were to have me back in their lives by the looks on their faces. Moments later, three others appeared at her side. Bill, Charlie and Andromeda My two childhood friends. Charlie looked absolutely wrecked, like he hadn't slept in so long, and Bill looked like he'd been worrying non-stop. Then there was Andromeda, who was sobbing at the sight of me being awake. I looked down to see Harry had fallen asleep. I tucked him in under my blanket and put a pillow between my stomach and his head.
"I was so worried," Gabrielle whispered.
"We thought you'd never wake up," Charlie added.
"Well, I'm back," I told them with a smile. "I don't intend on going anywhere ever again." I looked down at my little boy, fast sleep. I truly didn't ever want to leave his side ever again. Andromeda moved over to the bed and kissed my head, then kissed Harry's head.
"I'm going to stay here the night, make sure everything is alright," she said. "Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah, fine," I replied with a smile.
"We're going to get going. We just needed to see you," Bill said. He came over to the bed and kissed me on the head, followed by Charlie who did the same thing. Fleur and Gabrielle both kissed my right cheek and then the four left quickly.
"So, what was it like?" Andromeda asked.
"What was what like?" I replied, adjusting my position on the bed to make it more comfortable for myself and Harry.
"Well, were you asleep, did you have dreams, or was it like you were completely dead and couldn't feel anything?" If there was anyone I was going to tell the truth to, it was going to be Andie, and of course, she'd keep it a secret. I needed to share it with someone.
"The spell that made me like this, it was a time travel spell. I was sent back to Remus' last year at Hogwarts in my seventeen year old body, so I was there for a year, the same time I was asleep here for a year." Andromeda looked incredibly confused, and I didn't blame her. It wasn't an easy concept to grasp.
"So you saw Remus?" I nodded. "Who else did you see?"
"Sirius. James and Lily Potter. My father. Everyone from back then. It was quite incredible." I pulled the blanket over my shoulder. I realised that I didn't want to speak about them anymore. It was hurting me to even think about them, to think that I'd never see them again. To think I'd never hold Remus in my arms again. "I think I'm going to get some sleep. Is that okay?"
"Of course, darling. Good night."
It had been three days since I had woken up, and I had lost count of how many visitors I'd had. Minerva, Oliver and Katie Wood, all the Weasley's, all of my nieces and nephews, some colleagues from the Ministry and many other people had paid me a visit. It was tiring me out, which I found quite funny considering this body had been asleep for a year. I looked up to see my next two visitors. I was surprised to see them here, more so than the other visitors I had. Draco and Narcissa made their way over to my bedside. Draco had the most relieved expression on his face.
"Oh, Isabel, how glad we all are to see that you are alive!" Narcissa said, taking my hand and gripping it tightly. "We were all so worried. Lucius sends his regards. He too was worried, and apologises that he cannot be here. He has some important work to attend to."
"Give your husband thanks for his concern, Narcissa." She nodded and stepped aside so that Draco could have access to me.
"Isabel," Draco said with a smile, before taking me in his arms. "I'm so glad to see you awake. You have no idea how concerned we've all been. Scorpius came to see you in here almost once a week when we came in to visit."
"You came in once a week?" I asked, shocked that they saw me that often.
"I never got used to seeing you that way," Draco said. "It was horrible."
"Well, Draco, at least she's here with us now," Narcissa said. "And to celebrate you returning to us, I'm going to throw a ball in a few weeks from now!" I looked over at Draco and groaned, who simply laughed at my misery.
After a week of recovering, they finally let me out of that hospital wing. My first stop - the office of the Headmaster. There was someone that I desperately needed to see. I entered the Headmaster's office, closing the door behind me quietly. It had been so long since I had been in here. I had almost forgotten what it looked like. I approached the portrait on the wall which had become apart of my life now.
"Hello, Father," I said up at the painting. The portrait awoke, and I swear I could see a smile as the portrait made eye contact with me.
"For a moment I was worried that you would not come back."
"You know me, Daddy. I'm always a fighter," I told him with a beaming smile. I was lucky, having this portrait. I had something to hold onto of one of the most important people that I had lost. It wasn't as good as being able to physically hug him and have him here with me, but this was enough. I only wished there was one for Remus, Sirius, Ted, Tonks, Lily and James.
"What happened to you, Isabel?"
"I'd prefer not to speak about it," I told him, sitting down in the seat opposite his portrait. "Maybe I'll tell you one day, but today, I'd just like to celebrate being here, and being able to talk to you. Anything interesting happen in my absence?"
"Teddy came to speak to me."
"What?" I was shocked, Teddy never spoke to Father. I never knew why, Amelie, Andie and Harry would always come here with me and speak to their grandfather, but never Teddy. "What did you talk about?"
"Maybe I will tell you one day," Father replied with a smirk. "But today, I'd just to celebrate being here, and being able to talk to you." Even as a painting, he was still a smart arse.
It was strange to be here. It was so different to what had become familiar to me for the past year. I could see all the tombstones...all those people who died in the Battle of Hogwarts. I made my way to one particular grave first. I knelt down, took out my wand and laid a wreath at Father's tombstone. I was only talking to his portrait moments ago, but this was different. Being here, I felt my father's physical presence, like he's standing next to me, protecting me.
"You wouldn't believe the things that happened, Daddy. Everything was so different, you were different. I could see why you did what you did, you were so scared, but you were so brave. You don't know how proud I am of you, Father." I kissed the tombstone as a tear fell to my cheek. "I love you, Dad, and I'm proud of you." I breathed in and out slowly, calming myself.
I stood up from the ground and looked over my shoulder to the other side of the cemetery. I walked to the other side, and knelt at the grave of Remus Lupin. I closed my eyes, remembering the times I had shared with the young Remus Lupin, and the older one. Although I had put my family through a very tough time, I felt somehow blessed that I got to spend one last time with Remus. Every moment that I spent with him felt like, somehow, I was born to be there with him. Somehow I was supposed to go back there and know him as a young man, as well as an adult. It was closure for me, closure which I never got in this world before now. He was snatched away from me before I got to say my goodbyes. I kissed the ground in which he was buried in. It hurt so much, I just wanted him to be here with me. I didn't care if we hated each other, I just wanted him to be physically here. I wanted him to live and breathe on the same planet as me. The only comforting fact about all of this was I knew that the afterlife would be a happy place for Remus, as he'd been reunited with three of his best friends, Lily, James and Sirius. I knew they'd be causing chaos, wherever they were.
"I miss you," I whispered. "I miss you so much. I'd give anything to have you here with me." I pressed my forehead to the tombstone and tried to stop my tears from streaming down my face. "I meant what I said," I whispered, my breath trembling. "I'll love you my whole life."
"Isabel." It was Fred. I turned around to see my husband, staring down at me. "Are you okay?"
"Just visiting someone important," I told him, wiping the tears off my cheeks. He approached me, holding his hand out to me. I took his hand, then he pulled me up off the ground.
"I know how important he is to you, Isabel. You don't need to hide it." He wiped the remaining tears off my cheeks with his thumbs and kissed my head. "I know that you loved him, and I know that you love me. You just have to know that you don't need to hide it. You two shared something that I will never share with you, you're own special bond, just as you and Remus will never share anything that we have." Fred looked up at the sky and smiled. "It's going to get dark soon. I think Mum's having us over for a feast tonight."
"Well, lets go and get Teddy and Harry, and we'll head over there now," I told him with a smile. He put his arm around me as we walked back up to the castle. There was no doubt in my mind that nothing was more right than being in his arms. I loved him, and would love him, forever and always. I looked behind me and took one last look at the grave site where Remus was resting. I closed my eyes and thought of every single moment we shared together. They were special, just as my moments with Fred were special. There was one thing I knew for sure, a part of Remus would always live inside of my heart and remain with me forever.
"What are you thinking about?" Fred asked me. I looked to him and smiled.
"How beautiful the sunset looks over the lake," I told him.
"Do you think it'll look like that at home, over the ocean?"
"I hope so."
A/N: So here we are. We've come to the end of another story. I remember how emotional I was when I wrote the final author's note for Disturbing Truths, and now, here I am, writing the final author's note for I Remember You. I don't know if I'll ever write for Isabel again. I really want to, trust me, I do really want to, it's just, I don't know where else I can take Isabel. Disturbing Truths is one of the most reviewed original character stories on fanfiction. It's clear that Isabel's story has touched and remained with people, and that continued into I Remember You. People say that OC stories are stupid. Unoriginal. They are original, and when a well rounded character comes along, they're special. I really hope Isabel was special for all of you, because she is really special to me. I also hope that her relationships with her father, Severus, her mothers, Apolline, Molly and Andromeda, her best friends, Bill, Tonks and Lily, and her true loves of her life, Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black stay with you, and I hope you enjoyed seeing them unfold. If you have any suggestions or anything you want to see for Isabel, let me know!
I Remember You had readers from: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, India, Canada, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Austria, France, Malaysia, Croatia, Denmark, Mexico, Spain, Bolivia, Poland, New Zealand, Philippines, Norway, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Chile, Ireland, Luxembourg, Puerto Rico, Russia, Bulgaria, Thailand, Finland, Belarus, Iceland, Hungary, Slovakia, Malta, Czech Republic, Greece, Sweden, Indonesia, Uruguay, Pakistan, South Africa, Oman, Vietnam, Singapore, Dominican Republic, China, Slovenia, Portugal, Peru, South Korea, Albania, Israel, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Tanzania, and Belgium. It's so surreal for me to think that some person in Argentina, or Germany, or Norway, or Chile, or Colombia, or Peru, is reading my work! It's just crazy!
Remember, my tumblr page is always open if you want to ask a question, or if you want to listen to the music from Disturbing Truths or I Remember You. There will be a few surprises for you guys on the tumblr page in the coming days!
Tumblr page: bellabellex . tumblr . com
I hope to be writing a new story soon, hopefully it might be Isabel, I don't know. We'll see.
Until then, my lovely, amazing readers…
Let love and light fill your lives,
PrincessDieHigh.